KOTA KINABALU: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) Sabah is seeking the best possible means of ensuring that 10,000 people in Sabah who are eligible for the Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) get their money.

Its Director Datuk Hajam Lajah Alam said they would bring up the matter with the State Secretary as it involves people especially those in the remote areas who still do not have a bank account and, thus, are unable to receive their money. “We will meet the State Secretary on the best ways for the BSH money to be distributed to these people, like probably through the District Offices,” he said, Wednesday.

The first phase of the BSH was made on Jan. 28, this year. It was formerly known as BR1M (1Malaysia People’s Aid).

The money is being channelled in three phases with 4.1 million households getting RM300 each through a RM1.2billion allocation under the 2019 Budget.

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It is meant to ease the cost of living for those in the B40 category. B40 refers to the bottom 40pc of the population whose income is below RM3,900 monthly. The money for the rest of the recipients is credited straight to their bank accounts.

BR1M was renamed BSH when Pakatan Harapan took over Putrajaya after the May 9 general election last year.

Meanwhile, Hajam said IRB is confident of achieving its RM4.390 billion target in direct tax collection for this year. The board collected RM3.959b last year, slightly lower than 2017’s RM3.961b.

“We are confident of achieving our target for this year, with support and cooperation from all taxpayers in Sabah,” he said when met after he officiated the board’s Kelab Hasil Bersama Pejabat Pengarah Negeri Sabah’s Social Responsibility Programme in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration at Menara Hasil, Wednesday.

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On the board’s Special Voluntary Declaration Programme (PKPS), Hajam said 672 out of the 1,591 taxpayers identified under the PKPS to have undeclared taxable incomes have come forward as at Feb. 8 this year.

It involves accumulated additional taxes and penalties totalling RM51.57 million, he said, while urging those have yet to come forward to take the opportunity as the amount of penalty imposed under PKPS is only 10 per cent until March and then go up to 15 per cent until June this year.

“The response has been encouraging. I urge taxpayers especially those who have accounts outside the country to come forward to pay the tax for those incomes that supposed to be taxed,” he said. IRB Sabah aims to collect about RM300m under the PKPS.

On the event, Hajam said it is part of the board’s effort to go down to the ground and be with the people.

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“Apart from collecting taxes for the country, we also do not forget to go down to be with the community, to celebrate together with them,” he said. - Larry Ralon